QUEBEC CITY , P.Q. — Four goals in span of 4:02 in the third period spoiled a great effort from Eric Veilleux’s Shawinigan team. Trailing 2-1 in Quarter-Final series, Shawinigan knew they had to play another solid game if they want to go back to Quebec with series tie 2-2.
Ending the first period with the score 1-1, both teams offered exciting hockey for almost two periods before Quebec took advantage of two turnovers in middle of the third period created by two veteran players in David Labrecque and Gabriel Lenieux.
First, veteran Shawinigan center Labrecques lost the puck to Mirko Hoefflin who made a pass to Audy-Marchessault. The Quebec center saw his wrist shot go through Cataractes netminder at 10:38 of the third period scoring what became the game winning goal.
Another turnover came to haunt Shawinigan 1:21 later when Lemieux lost the puck to Champagne, Champagne found Marchessault who took a shot seeing Girard made the save, but Frederick Roy took the rebound and beat Cataractes veteran goalie who seem alone against Quebec team at 11:59.
Quebec ended the game scoring two more goals in 34 seconds. Hoefflin beat Girard with a backhanded shot at 14:04 and with 5:20 seconds remaining in the game Alexandre Grenier scored Quebec fifth goal in an empty net after Shawinigan head coach pulled his netminder.
To win playoff games every team needs contributions from special units. Shawinigan for one, saw its power play score only one goal in four games, and has been victim of two shorthanded goals.
Veilleux was the first to recognize third period turnovers prove to be costly for his team.
“I think it’s what happen on goal number two and three. It’s disappointing for Girard who played good game until he was left alone in third period.”
“It’s important to score goal when your team got a man advantage, lately we weren’t able to but we have had our chances. Casavant (Benjamin) alone in the slot saw Domingue make the save, usually the puck went in. Anton (Zlobin) also got several chances. On the other hand, other plays should be better,” Veilleux said on Shawinigan local radio.
For Patrick Roy who saw his team win game four to lead the series three games to one, he was happy to see things turned in his team favor.
“Honestly we played very good game tonight, Shawinigan also played great but they spent lots of energy in last night game. In game number three we led 3-1 after forty minutes and knowing the kind of hockey we are able to play in third period, we were disappointed to lose that game. But if someone would tell me, we will come back home leading 3-1 after first four games, I would take it with pleasure.”
“We told ourselves that if we continued to play good hockey it would be paying dividend at the end, and it’s what happened.”
“In the third period we were opportunistic, we have had good scoring chances. We needed to be patient because Shawinigan played very good hockey in second periods and until maybe the last five minutes of the third periods.”
Knowing the team ( Shawinigan) needed to get another good start in game four, if they wanted to have chance to win this game, the Cataractes head coach saw his team give up the first goal in the game.
Shawinigan goaltender Gabriel Girard didn’t seem too sharp on Quebec first goal, scored at 6:08 in first period. John Audy-Marchessault’s wrist shot beat Shawinigan goaltender, on what appeared to be a weak goal, giving by the veteran netminder. Quebec opened the scoring for eighth consecutive times.
Shawinigan didn’t wait long before getting on board for the first time in the game. In fact, Quebec kept the lead only for 3:27 before Anton Zlobin scored his fourth of the playoff tying the score 1-1.
Entering Quebec zone on left side, the Cataractes left winger missed his first shot, before getting the chance to take a second one. Zlobin wrist shot beat Quebec goalie Louis Domingue under his right arm at 9:35.
Shawinigan ended first period being shutout in two power play opportunities, Quebec went 0-1.
While neither team was able to break the tie, it wasn’t because they didn’t have scoring chances. Girard certainly would like to have another chance to make the save, on the only shot that went behind him but made several key saves in middle frame to prevent Quebec from taking the laead earlier than they did.
Girard was particularly hot during a penalty to teammate Jonathan Racine, making key save against Quebec center Joel Champagne. In other occasions The Varennes native successively stopped a shot from Ryan Bourque, Frederick Roy and Mikael Tam before the end of second period.
Girard faced 19 shots in first two periods making 18 saves.
With the score still 1-1 after first two periods, Shawinigan still had great chance to tie the series 2-2, but two costly turnovers in 1:21 minutes came to shatters home team effort. In fact, three turnovers in 3:34 seconds, first two by veteran 20 year old came to seal Shawinigan fate in game four.
With the series being 3- 1 in favor of the Remparts and game five in Quebec, Shawinigan will have an enormous task ahead of them. Now for team coach by Veilleux next challenge will be to come back in Shawinigan for game six next Sunday, if not the Cataractes will have to wait next year to play hockey.
Game five will be this Friday April 15 in Quebec.
Other Quarter-Final series in the QMJHL
Saint John 5 vs. Victoriaville 4 (first overtime)
Montreal 1 vs. Lewiston 4
Drummondville 1 vs. Gatineau 6
Contact the author at: serge.poulin@prohockeynews.com
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